Interview with the Vampire season 2 is giving us a new Claudia, and we’re not entirely sure how we’re supposed to take that news. Instead of Bailey Bass, the child teen vampire will be played by Delainey Hayles. What does that mean for the series, the character, and the universe at large? No one really knows, but the change is concerning. For a number of reasons.
In the first place, putting aside anything and everything to do with fictional vampires, we just hope whatever “variety of unforeseen circumstances” Bass is referring to in her statement on her exit are good things, not bad ones. Granted, we don’t see how they could be good — but we’re all for living in denial here. Regardless, we’re sending good vibes.
As far as what this means for season 2 and/or the series as a whole, that’s also anyone’s guess. But what we do know is this: Hayles has her work cut out for her, if nothing else. It’s never easy to come into a role that’s already been established by someone else. No two actors are going to portray a character exactly the same way, which means we’re going to learn who Claudia is all over again. And we were finally starting to get attached after what was, for us, a little bit of a rough start.
That brings us to our next point. When we said we wanted Claudia to be different, we didn’t mean to make this kind of change. We meant, you know, actually stop writing a teen girl in such an out of touch way. Whatever problems we may have with the creative choices and huge changes surrounding one of Anne Rice’s most tragic characters — a huge accomplishment…and not in a good way — Bass’ performance was never the problem. She brought something special to the role, and whenever she actually had the chance to do something meaningful, she delivered. Big time.
Plenty of people loved Bass as Claudia, and they are not happy about this Interview with the Vampire season 2 casting news.
Like, as in, not happy at all. Devastated, even. But don’t take our word for it. Here’s just a tiny fraction of the reactions.
Hayles is somehow going to have to bring something entirely her own to the role and earn goodwill in the eyes of fans who loved Bass’ Claudia. On top of that, she may also have to do the same quality of work in terms of overcoming the frustrating writing choices. (But we’re hoping not, especially with the promising end to the first season.)
Then, there’s the small matter of, you know, making us love her enough to make Paris hurt.
Oh, and do we have to be worried about Louis and Lestat now, too? Pry Sam Reid and Jacob Anderson from our cold, dead hands. (And no, we’re not even considering losing our perfect Armand. Don’t even.)
But, keeping all of that in mind, we want to make it very clear that Delainey Hayles deserves a fair shot coming into the series’ second season. So, let’s not do that thing where fandom hates a new cast member purely out of misplaced spite for losing someone else, ok?. Because whatever happened here, this isn’t her fault. And, most likely, it’s kind of a huge deal for her.
Interview with the Vampire has been a huge success for AMC. Here’s hoping it’s one for our new Claudia, too.
Thoughts on Delainey Hayles replacing Bailey Bass as Claudia in Interview with the Vampire season 2? Leave us a comment!
